23rd December 2010 - For eight year old Ajay (name changed) it meant a world for him, a New Year wish that just came true.

Eight year old Ajay (name changed) was forced to work in a juice shop by three men from his native village. A normal day for him would begin early morning and conclude way past 10 in the night. He was promised sufficient salary for the job but for past three months, his employers – Raju, Ajay and Kamlesh, all from village Karehna in Lucknow paid him nothing and kept getting their work done.

On December 22, they accused him of stealing money from the shop. Ajay Said “They blamed me for stealing 700 Rs and then they forcibly removed my shirt.  I kept on saying I didn’t do it, but then it seemed they have gone deaf on my plea. One of them took the leather belt and started hitting me with the belt. He was not satisfied by the wounds that came on my skin he then made my skin wet and again started whipping till my back bled profusely. They sprinkled salt and red chilli powder on my wounds to make it more painful. I screamed on top of my voice it was unbearable and I was wishing someone would hear me and rescue me from this torture.  It was only after few hours a guard heard him screaming for help and came for my rescue. After seeing the third person both the employers ran away the guard took me to the Police Station”. 

Bachpan Bachao Andolan was informed about the incident and Mr R.S Chaurasia, Chairperson of BBA visited the Police Station, Ghazipur to meet Ajay and requested the authorities to take serious action against the employer under Article 23 and 26 of Juvenile Justice Act 2000. He said that “ it’s really disheartening to see how people have forgotten to be human , the young child was beaten as slave and the employers after doing such a heinous crime are still roaming freely”